Worthy Blogs & Websites

It’s surprising sometimes what the federal government looks at. As the name suggests, one of its latest reports — the American Time Use Survey — looks at the activities that make up our days. Among other things, it shows I’m once again in the minority, this time in “leisure time.”

There’s a new map floating around the web based on a survey several years ago on the average number of hours spent reading each week in 30 countries. It probably won’t shock a lot of people to learn that the U.S. is in the fourth of five tiers on the map.

I don’t usually post just pictures, particularly when they’re from so-called social media. But Random House, Inc., said so much with this picture and short slogan posted on its Facebook page that I needed to pass it along.

If television does that to inanimate objects, just think of its effect on brain cells.

I’ll be honest. Network only recently became one of my favorite films. I saw it shortly after it was released in late 1976 but let some 30 years elapse before watching it over Thanksgiving. When I first saw it, I considered it biting commentary. Now, sadly, I consider it prescient.

If the term “variety show” comes up today, it’s most likely in a debate over Jay Leno’s move to prime time television. Otherwise, it brings to mind names like Ed Sullivan, Sonny and Cher or even Donny and Marie, along with whatever smile or cringe they may produce. While variety shows tend to reflect or […]